How to Stay Productive + Be Motivated for School | Vanessa Tiiu
There are many and different approaches to dealing with motivation while studying as shown in answers to the following questions
How do I motivate myself to study? 2500+ answers
How can I motivate myself to study even if I’m not interested in education? 1300+
How do I get myself to become motivated and just study all the time? - 444+
What motivates you to study and why? 280+
What are the best motivational quotes for students? - 230+
Searching online will give more and a wider variety of approaches and views.
Things to Consider
It is clear there is no single approach which is guaranteed to help all students; an approach which one student finds useful another student will find useless. This shows that students are different in their view of motivation and there are many different factors which influence motivation.
If a student finds something which helps often, it is not a permanent fix; what helps at one point in time may not help at another, which may have something to do with things changing.
study tips from a college graduate ;) time management, note taking, motivation
A student can spend a lot of time and effort searching the vast amount of online information and advice, trying to find things which may help. You might be lucky and quickly find something which helps you, but it appears many people don’t have such luck. A further challenge relates to there being no guarantee you will find something that improves things over and above where you are and what you are doing now.
With the enormous volume and ever-expanding amount of information and advice each individual has to decide how much time and effort to spend searching it; students have to work out the balance between searching and just getting on with things, however they go about it.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Why isn't there a single solution which will help all students?
Around the world education systems have been in place for decades, if not centuries and many, many millions of students have gone through education. Alongside the practice of teaching, a vast amount of research has been undertaken and many articles have been written about various aspects of education. Yet, focus, motivation and such like remain a big problem for many students today.
After so many students have been taught, so many teachers have been trained and practiced teaching and a vast amount of research undertaken, it seems odd a solution to these problems has not been found.
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It can be useful to consider why no solution has been found; this may help students continuing to have problems understand why this is and why finding solutions is problematic.
It is helpful to ask parents, teachers, professors, those presenting approaches aimed at helping students deal with these problems, with such an enormous amount of experience and knowledge about education why do students still have problems?
Answers to questions such as these may give those having problems a different view, assisting them find things that may help or, alternatively, gain a different understanding and acceptance of the problems faced.
This is the time of the year when papers are due before Christmas and for most of you this means 2 or 3 deadlines in the next month.
Sometimes having to do all that studying and catching up with reading from previous weeks feels like a drag.It can be overwhelming because together with the studying can come a wave of questions where you doubt yourself on a personal level with thoughts such as:
'Do I even understand these readings?'… 'Am I going to be able to write something interesting and relevant?'… 'Am I going to do the right thing?'… 'Am I good enough to do this?'… 'Others seem to be more on top of things than I am'… 'What if I do badly?'
These thoughts are subtle but can lead to difficult feelings that interfere with motivation. So to generate that motivation you could try some of the following:
1. Acknowledge your resistance and difficult feelings with motivation
It may be helpful to write these feelings or thoughts down and then leave these on the side so you can then study.
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2. Do not run away
Avoiding work can make you feel deflated. This is emotionally more draining than having to go through the frustration of reading for your paper.
3. Do not blame yourself for procrastinating now and then
Try to become aware of the habit and gently make yourself to go back to the task sooner rather than later.
4. Try to understand your studying style better
What will make it easier for you to work? We are all prone to pleasant experiences and it is natural that we tend to avoid uncomfortable, dry chores and duties. So try to make your study experience as interesting as possible.
5. Don't question your abilities
Don't put yourself down by comparing yourself to others.
6. Visualise yourself starting
Make yourself sit down and work even if this is for just 20 minutes. See starting as a parallel process like a plane on a runway. You may start slow but you will still take off!
7. Focus on the task at hand
Prioritise the most important tasks and avoid multitasking.
8. Communicate to others any difficulties and/or what you intend to do
This can help you engage with the process and identify the important tasks. Communication / externalisation can help you to commit with immediate goals and you could also find out others points of view and tips.
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9. Take a time limited approach in which you schedule your tasks
Ask yourself 'how much can I achieve in the next 2 hours?' instead of 'Can I complete all tasks?' In this way you do not get as easily overwhelmed by the volume of study you need to do.
10. Remember that studying can be challenging and take you out of your comfort zone
Think about the hiking of Mountain Kilimanjaro; it is not easy and can even be uncomfortable but the pleasure comes when you begin to see the view from height, feel the fresh air and when you reach the destination you get a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Focus on the outcome and not the struggle to get there!
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How can I get motivation to study?
If you find that you lack motivation to study, welcome to the club. Just about every student experiences this problem at one time or another.
Motivation is important for good studying. When you are motivated, you will find it easy to stay focused over a period of time. When you are not motivated, you will not only find it difficult to stay focused, but you will find it difficult to get started in the first place.
Here are some ways to increase your motivation to study.
- Reward yourself for studying. For example, after a successful study session, have a treat like a nice big ice cream cone. Go crazy and add some cherries and nuts.
- Study with your friends. Don’t make it party time, but you can have fun as you do this.
- Remind yourself of your long-term goals. Achievement of your goals likely requires educational success. Educational success requires studying.
- Eliminate distractions. If you are surrounded by things you would rather do than study, you will probably do those things instead of studying.
- Develop interest in what you have to study. This will make studying more enjoyable.
- Take breaks. When you feel that you need to take a break, try to stop at a point where it is logical to stop. This will make it easier for you to resume studying after your break.
- Establish a comfortable environment. You will be more inclined to study if you feel comfortable.
- Establish reasonable goals for a study session. You probably won’t get very far if you look at your study session as "mission impossible."
- Use a motivational poster. Place the poster where you can see it as you study. The poster should include positive words and a picture depicting success. You can buy one or even make your own. You can also read inspirational stories about real people who have achieved success through effort.
- Just do it. Once you do, you will feel a lot better than if you are worried about getting it done.
Whether you’re studying for your Bachelor degree, an MBA or simply expanding your knowledge base, these tips will help you get the most out of your study time. We uncover that it's not necessarily about working harder, but how to study smarter.
1. Study in short chunks
Short study sessions help the synapses in your brain process information much better than lots of information in long sessions. Try setting aside 30 minutes before or after work to dedicate to your study. Avoid all-nighters, start planning and reading early in the study period and make a study schedule.
2. Get in the zone
Create the ideal study space, and gather all the books and items you will need. This prep time also prepares the brain for study. Also, limit distractions – if you must listen to music, choose melodic music without lyrics and of course, leave your phone alone and stay off social media.
3. Sleep well and exercise
You absorb information better when you’re alert, well-fed and rested – and even better after you’ve exercised. It's important to ensure you’ve consumed nutritious foods to get your brain powered up – things like fish, nuts, berries and yoghurt. It also pays to stay hydrated and get up to move in between your 30-minute sessions.
4. Write flash cards
Your brain stores information better when you’ve written something down after you're read or heard it. So this means you'll probably have to lose the highlighter and start writing the essentials on flashcards. A good system to use is the Leitner System, which utilises the principle of spaced repetition and increasing intervals.
5. Connect the dots
Learning to make connections when you consume information pays dividends. While you study, think of the various ways that the information you are reading, watching or listening to is connected to one another. This is called contextual learning. Try to group related information on one flashcard.
6. Set goals
Make a list of study goals and tick them off when you complete them. Not only will it motivate you and give you a sense of achievement, it will help you feel in control and reduce any study stress.
7.Test yourself
Practice tests are a good way to see where you’re at, and where you might need to focus. There are some great templates that you can find online to help with the structure. If you come across something tricky in your readings, make a note of it and remember to test yourself later for a challenge.
8. Aim to teach it
Tests have shown that people who study material to teach it to others, absorb the information more logically than those who are merely studying for themselves. A US study has shown that students who engaged in peer learning scored significantly higher on a reading test than the students who had not, indicating the effectiveness peer tutoring can have on academic achievement.
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9. Read aloud and recall
Whether it's by yourself, with a friend or family member, read your flashcards and summaries out loud. A handy trick is to close your eyes and try to recall what they say to help further cement your main points and arguments.
10. Lose the screen
A psychology lecturer at the University of Leicester in England has found that it’s harder to remember what you’ve read when reading from a screen, rather than a book or piece of paper. So to mix up your study, try printing out some of your lecture notes or online articles, and give those eyes a rest!
How can I be obsessed with studying?
Are today’s students addicted to studying?
Do they wake up excited about going to school? Are they thrilled about exams?
Definitely not.
More likely, they’re addicted to online gaming. It could be Minecraft, Blackshot, Audition, League of Legends, World of Warcraft, ArcheAge, DotA, Call of Duty, or others.
I’ve worked with thousands of students, so I know that many students see their academics as a distraction from their gaming – not the other way around!
What makes online gaming so addictive? 6 key characteristics
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The reasons vary from game to game, but these are six common characteristics of the most addictive ones:
1. The game is ongoing, and doesn’t have a fixed end point.
2. Players feel like they’re making constant progress. (Every time you play, you see your points or level or rank increasing.)
3. Players get to explore imaginary worlds and discover new, unexpected things.
4. The missions or quests involve teamwork, and a sense of community grows as friendships form.
5. Every player’s efforts and contributions affect the team’s success.
6. The game is challenging enough to keep players engaged, but not so challenging that players become discouraged.
In lots of ways, children can meet their real-world needs through online gaming. They can gain acceptance and approval; they can make friends with little fear of rejection; they can rack up achievements and get a sense of accomplishment.
And much more.
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It’s no wonder that many students who aren’t doing well in school – and even some of those who are – turn to online gaming as a fun distraction. Unfortunately, this can quickly become an unhealthy obsession.
But are there lessons we can learn from online gaming, which we can apply to education? In other words, can we make studying and learning more addictive?
6 ways to make studying and learning as addictive as online gaming
Based on the six characteristics of online games listed above, here are ways that each one can be applied to education:
1. Focus on the process of learning, not the “end point”
Parents and teachers tend to overemphasise the importance of the “end point”: the end-of-year exams, the O-levels, getting a diploma or degree.
Students confess to me that they feel as if their entire future hinges on their performance on the next exam!
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Goal-setting is useful. But if too much focus is on hitting these targets, students begin to dread learning. Learning becomes something they “have” to do to achieve these goals, which their parents and teachers have forced upon them.
That’s why few students read books for pleasure once they leave school. They’ve accumulated too many negative associations with reading and learning.
Instead of emphasising the “end point” of learning, parents and teachers must emphasise the process of learning. They must also set an example by showing students that they’re lifelong learners themselves.
2. Help students to track their progress on a daily or weekly basis
Students relish the feeling of making progress. But tests and exams are too infrequent to give students this feeling, especially for students who aren’t already doing well.
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To stay motivated, students must be able to track their progress daily or weekly. If not, they’ll lose interest.
Khan Academy has devised a brilliant way of tracking, on an ongoing basis, the specific skills that students have mastered. The teacher can monitor the students’ development too.
If we want to make learning addictive, we must adopt a similar approach – and we’ll need the help of technology.
3. Encourage students to explore topics outside the syllabus
Most teachers do the opposite of this. If a topic isn’t going to be tested, teachers will typically tell their students not to learn it. (This is linked to Point #1, and the overemphasis on exams.)
School timetables are already packed, and there’s barely enough time to cover the topics that are in the syllabus. So I don’t blame teachers at all for doing this.
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But there’s no “syllabus” in the “real world”. Real-world success belongs to those who never stop learning and growing.
I suggest that we reduce the number of topics in the syllabus. We can then allow students the flexibility to explore related topics that interest them. At a policy level, I know this is easier said than done. But I don’t think there’s an alternative in the long run.
If students take responsibility for their education in this way, they’ll become more engaged in their own learning.
4. Make group work the norm and individual work the exception
Today, the converse is true. Individual work is the norm, while group work is the exception.
But is this how the real world works?
Not quite. The world is a complicated place where you can’t work alone. Collaboration and cooperation are vital.
Through group projects, students learn life skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, public speaking, and conflict resolution.
To make the projects more meaningful, students could define the objectives and outcomes themselves, within certain guidelines. This would empower students to take ownership of the projects.
A+ STUDENT DISCIPLINE - Best Study Motivation
5. Allow students to make a real, immediate impact through their work
Students desperately want to make an impact. They often feel, however, that little of what they do in school makes an impact.
In many ways, they’re right. If they refuse to study, they’ll incur the wrath and disappointment of their parents and teachers. But other than that, their academic performance doesn’t affect anyone in a tangible way, at least not immediately.
And students are impatient people who want to make a difference right now.
But what if the projects they’re assigned directly benefit others? What if they could share what they’ve learned (even if it’s primarily with their parents and relatives) through a class blog post or video?
Students must recognise that knowledge isn’t meant to be hoarded. It’s meant to be shared. It’s meant to be used as a tool to touch lives and impact the world around them.
6. Give students challenges that are appropriate for their skill level (using technology)
If a task isn’t challenging enough, students get bored. But if a task is too challenging, students give up.
Being an educator is tough work, isn’t it?
Students need challenges that are appropriate for their skill level.
This simply isn’t possible with the current classroom setup. We can’t expect one teacher to accommodate the learning needs of 30 or 40 students at the same time – especially not without the aid of technology.
Technology isn’t a substitute for teachers. But it is a tool to help teachers assume the role of coach, rather than lecturer. This way, lessons will be more efficient, and learning will be more addictive.
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The bottom line
If you’re a parent or educator, you might be thinking that my suggestions aren’t practical.
I disagree. My suggestions are simple and practical, but they won’t be easy to implement.
Our education system is one of the best in the world, but there’s always room to improve. By applying the principles that make online gaming so addictive, we can reform the education system.
I dream of the day when our students are all lifelong learning addicts – students who run to school, and walk home.
To turn that dream into a reality, we need to get to work and make a change.
Today.
